Of Bosses and Bastards (and Vaginas)

Zappagram 148: Boss move by The Boss, dick move by The Foos, cool move by Thom Yorke, vagina-scented vinyl is now a thing, and much more...

My dearest companions in song,

May this missive find thee all in goodly health and joyful harmony. I now take up my pen from the very front of this great and unceasing battle—a righteous struggle betwixt truth and tyranny, melody and malice, the open road and the iron fist.

Dark legions, led by that most vile usurper of liberty and decency, seek to silence the music, the hope and joy, and the hard-won dreams of the people.

Yet fear not—for our champion rides forth—armed not with musket, but rather with a sweet-ass Fender Telecaster; no medals or brass upon his chest, but a tattered denim jacket soaked with sweat and worn thin by honest toil and the weight of the weary road.

I bid ye gather ’round and hearken unto the tale of brave Bruce Springsteen, the bard of our better angels, who stands tall ’neath a flag of righteous defiance, calling upon us all to rise up—to meet upon the fields and in the streets where freedom is wrought note by note, and the spirit of rebellion slumbers not.

It is with great pleasure that I place into your hands this latest dispatch, my humble attempt to document the sound and spirit of our present age.

May it serve as both record and rallying cry, as we stand steadfast in the faith that glory days yet await—and that even now, tramps like us were born to run toward the light, battling fiercely for the good of all and the very soul of this republic.

Ever your faithful correspondent,
Christopher Fucking Zappa

Ground control to subscriber:
Take your protein pills. Put your helmet on.
This newsletter ain’t gonna read itself…

MUSIC NEWS

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I STAND WITH THE BOSS

At a recent concert in Manchester, launching the final leg of his tour, Bruce Springsteen delivered a scorching condemnation of Donald Trump and his fascist regime, calling it out for persecuting dissenters, rolling back civil rights, and abandoning the most vulnerable among us.

“The America I love, the America I’ve written about and sung about for 50 years, has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years. It is currently under the control of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of the American spirit to rise with us and raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom ring.”

This is just the latest in Springsteen’s long history of speaking out against Trump, who, predictably, lashed out via social media like the thin-skinned man-child he is, issuing a statement that seemed to threaten Bruce upon his return to the States. I won’t dignify what the orange piece of shit said by reposting a single word of it, but suffice to say, there is only one Boss in America and it sure as shit isn’t the racist traitor occupying the White House. Trumplethinskin only wishes he could draw massive crowds like Bruce, but the only time that’ll happen will be the day he goes yam tits up.

Long live Bruce Springsteen. Fuck Donald Trump.

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IN GOOD COMPANY

In recent days, Eddie Vedder and Neil Young have also expressed their support for both democracy itself and Springsteen’s right to speak up for those who value it.

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I PITY THE FOO

Foo Fighters have fired drummer Josh Freese after just two years with the band, with no reason given other than the group “wants to go in a different direction." This marks the first time in his 40-year career that Freese has been kicked out of a band, though the veteran session musician (who's played with everyone from NIN to Guns N' Roses) is taking it surprisingly well, even giving fans a "Top 10 possible reasons" list for his departure. Freese is currently on tour with A Perfect Circle and returned to his dressing room after Friday’s show to find something that only makes sense if you read his Top 10 list linked above.

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SCAVENGER HUNT

Thom Yorke and Mark Pritchard's new collaborative album Tall Tales has a cool promotional twist—they've buried 400 specially forged coins around the world and created a website where fans can track and document their findings. Some lucky collectors have already discovered some of the coins. This reminds me of Forrest Fenn’s treasure, which I was absolutely obsessed with for a while back in the 2010s.

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VAGINA-SCENTED VINYL

Australian punk band Private Function has pressed their latest album as a scratch-and-sniff vinyl edition that—thanks to a French perfumer’s replication of Goop’s candle formula—releases a scent modeled on Gwyneth Paltrow’s vagina. Yes, really. The band’s “Goopy” edition sold out quickly, but other non-scented variants are still available via the band’s website, marking yet another unconventional release from the band, which previously issued a vinyl edition of their 2022 LP pressed with the band member’s urine inside.

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BUSTED!

The famous white marble bust of Jim Morrison, which was stolen from his grave at Paris's Père-Lachaise cemetery in 1988, was unexpectedly discovered by French police—not during a mission to recover stolen art, but while they were conducting a financial fraud investigation. The Financial and Anti-Corruption Brigade of the Directorate of Judicial Police of the Prefecture of Police—wow, that’s a mouthful—was executing a search tied to a fraud case when they stumbled upon the sculpture. It remains unclear how the bust came to be at the searched location and who was responsible for its theft. The exact details of its journey over the past 37 years remain unknown. The sculpture, made by Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin and installed in 1981, still bears its graffiti-covered battle scars, including a missing nose, stolen by “souvenir hunters” (read: assholes) long before it disappeared. As of now, the bust remains in police custody, and it’s uncertain if it will be returned to Morrison’s grave.

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TRAGIC CRASH

Sound Talent Group co-founder Dave Shapiro, 42, and former Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams were among those killed when their Cessna 550 crashed in San Diego's Tierrasanta neighborhood this past Thursday (May 22). Shapiro, who founded Velocity Records and Aviation, was a veteran music industry figure who co-founded STG in 2019, representing acts like Pierce the Veil, Sum 41, and Lamb of God.

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SCORE ONE FOR REZNOR AND ROSS

Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are launching Future Ruins, a groundbreaking one-day festival—to be held November 8 in Los Angeles—that's basically a film score nerd's wet dream, featuring heavy hitters like John Carpenter, Danny Elfman, and Mark Mothersbaugh performing their most iconic compositions across three stages at the Equestrian Center.

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SELL THE KIDNEY, BUY THE TICKET, TAKE THE RIDE

Amid recent reports that nearly 60% of Coachella attendees bought tickets on a payment plan, new studies reveal that young Americans are spending big on concert tickets despite financial strain. A survey of over 2,000 adults found that Gen Z spent an average of $2,100 on concert tickets over the past two years, with 75% willing to pay premium resale prices for live shows—even if it means going into debt to see their favorite artists perform.

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CHEAP SEATS

Speaking of seeing your favorite artist perform, Live Nation is once again offering their "$30 Ticket to Summer" promotion—featuring $30 all-inclusive tickets to more than 1,000 summer concerts featuring artists like A Perfect Circle, Halestorm, Jake Wesley Rogers, Leon Bridges, Modest Mouse, Peach Pit, Primus, Puscifer, Queens of the Stone Age, The Flaming Lips, The Kills, Waxahatchee, Willie Nelson, and more.

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QUEEN B

A forthcoming biography of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury reveals that he fathered a daughter, known only as “B,” back in 1976 during an affair with a close friend’s wife. Now a 48-year-old medical professional residing in Europe, B maintained a close relationship with her father until his death in 1991 and has provided author Lesley-Ann Jones with 17 volumes of personal diaries Mercury wrote, chronicling his life and thoughts. B’s existence was known only to Mercury’s inner circle, including his closest family and friends, but she has now chosen to share her story to allow Mercury to “speak through his writings” and to correct misconceptions about his life. The biography—Love, Freddie—is scheduled for release on September 5, 2025.

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PEACE ON EARTH

At the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards, where U2 became the first Irish act to receive Fellowship of The Ivors Academy, during the band’s acceptance speech, Bono called for peace between Israel and Gaza, stating, “Hamas, release the hostages, stop the war. Israel, be released from Benjamin Netanyahu and the far-right fundamentalists that twist your sacred texts.” Earlier this month, Bono updated fans on U2’s upcoming as-yet-titled studio album, confirming that the band has been recording, “and it sounds like the future to me.”

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GET WELL SOON, PIANO MAN

Billy Joel has canceled all upcoming concerts after being diagnosed with NPH (Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus), a brain disorder affecting his hearing, vision, and balance. The success rate for healing depends heavily on early diagnosis and intervention, so we can hope they caught this in time. The 74-year-old Joel is now undergoing physical therapy. Refunds are being offered for all canceled shows.

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FARRELL WENT FERAL

In a new interview with Guitar Player magazine, Dave Navarro confirmed that Jane's Addiction will never play together again, following the violent attack on Navarro by former bandmate Perry Farrell during a September 2024 show in Boston, where Farrell punched Navarro onstage and off, leading to the cancellation of their reunion tour. Farrell hasn’t been heard from on social media since, which is probably for the best. On top of Perry being a physically violent dick, it’s worth mentioning that while the band sounded incredible, Farrell sounded like dog shit during those last shows.

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B-SIDES

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• Beach Fossils plot North American fall tour 2025

• Billie Eilish announces new Hit Me Hard and Soft tour dates

• Bob Mould announces 2025 solo electric tour dates

• Geordie Greep announces September 2025 U.S. tour

• Jerry Cantrell announces summer 2025 U.S. tour

• Laufey announces new album A Matter of Time

• The Mountain Goats outline 2025 fall tour dates

• The Psychedelic Furs announce 2025 tour dates w/ Gary Numan

• Rilo Kiley adds seven new shows to 2025 reunion tour

• Saint Etienne announce final album

• Simple Minds announce 2025 North American tour

• Wolf Alice announce 2025 North American tour dates

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Z-REX

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Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band open their Land of Hope & Dreams tour in Manchester with a statement about the current political situation in the United States.

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NEW RELEASES

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7Seconds: New Wind / Change In My Head
‡ Cautious Clay: The Hours: Morning
‡ Chuck D: Radio Armageddon
The Dandy Warhols: Rock Remaker EP
Pelican: Flickering Resonance
Sleep Theory: Afterglow
‡ Slow Joy: A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming
Sparks: Mad!
Stereolab: Instant Holograms on Metal Film
Tune-Yards: Better Dreaming
Windser: Windser

‡ Zappa’s favorite

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RELEASE RADAR

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:: MAY 30

Alan Sparhawk & Trampled by Turtles: self-titled • Garbage: Let All That We Imagine Be the Light • Illuminati Hotties: Nickel on the Fountain Floor EP • Matt Berninger: Get Sunk • Mt. Joy: Hope We Have Fun • Sufjan Stevens: Carrie & Lowell (10th Anniversary Edition) • Swans: Birthing

:: JUN 6

Black Moth Super Rainbow: Soft New Magic Dream • Broken Social Scene: Anthems: A Celebration Of Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It In People • Caamp: Copper Changes Color • Elbow: AUDIO VERTIGO ECHO elbow EP 5 • Frankie & The Witch Fingers: Trash Classic • Isaac Hayes: The Best Of Isaac Hayes • Mary Chapin Carpenter: Personal History • My Chemical Romance: Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge (Deluxe Edition) • Pulp: More • Soccer Mommy: Evergreen (Stripped) EP • Steely Dan: The Royal Scam (Vinyl Reissue) • Tracy Bonham: Sky Too Wide • Turnstile: Never Enough • Wavves: Spun

:: JUN 13

The Cure: Mixes of a Lost World • King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: Phantom Island • Metallica: Load (Remastered Deluxe Box Set) • Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts: Talkin to the Trees • Ray LaMontagne: Trouble (20th Anniversary Edition) • The Swell Season: Forward

:: JUN 20

The B-52’s: The Warner and Reprise Years • Mo Lowda & the Humble: Tailing the Ghost • Tropical Fuck Storm: Fairyland Codex

:: JUN 27

Durand Jones & The Indications: Flowers • Fishbone: Stockholm Syndrome • Lorde: Virgin • Bruce Springsteen: Tracks II: The Lost Albums • The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan (20th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue)

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ON THIS DATE

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:: MAY 25

Paul Weller was born in England (1958) • Jay Bennett, former member of Wilco, died at his home in Illinois at the age of 45. (2009)

:: MAY 26

Miles Davis (1926) • Levon Helm (1940) • Mick Ronson (1946) • Stevie Nicks (1946) • Lenny Kravitz (1964) • Lauryn Hill (1975) • The Beatles recorded “Yellow Submarine” at Abbey Road studios in London. (1966) • John and Yoko began an eight-day “bed in” in room 1742 of The Hotel La Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, Canada, to promote world peace. (1969) • Depeche Mode keyboardist Andy Fletcher died aged 60. (2022)

:: MAY 27

Siouxsie Sioux (1957) • Neil Finn (1958) • Sean Kinney of Alice in Chains (1966) • André 3000 (1975) • Sophie Allison of Soccer Mommy (1997) • The Sex Pistols single “God Save The Queen” was released in the UK. (1977) • Gregg Allman, founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, died at the age of 69 at his home in Savannah, Georgia. (2017)

:: MAY 28

T-Bone Walker (1910) • Gladys Knight & Billy Vera (1944) • John Fogerty (1945) • Wendy O. Williams (1949) • Kylie Minogue (1968) • Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull were arrested at their London home and charged with possession of cannabis. They were later released on bail. (1969)

:: MAY 29

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum (1945) • Mike Porcaro, bassist of Toto (1955) • Melissa Etheridge (1961) • Noel Gallagher (1967) • Singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley disappeared after drowning in the Mississippi River. (1997)

:: MAY 30

Klaus Flouride, bassist for Dead Kennedys (1949) • Topper Headon, drummer for The Clash (1955) • Tom Morello (1964) • Stephen Malkmus (1966) • Kevin Barnes of Of Montreal (1974) • CeeLo Green (1975) • A leaked copy of the new White Stripes album Icky Thump was played on Chicago radio station WKQX. Jack White personally called the radio station to voice his displeasure. (2007)

:: MAY 31

John Bonham (1948) • Canadian singer Corey Hart, best known for his hit “Sunglasses at Night” (1962) • MC Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. (1964) • Guitarist Robert Quine who worked with Richard Hell And The Voidoids, Lou Reed, Brian Eno, Lloyd Cole, Tom Waits, and They Might Be Giants was found dead of a heroin overdose in his New York City home. (2004) • Roky Erickson died in Austin, Texas, at age 71. (2019)

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CODA

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Syncopated and caffeinated,
Chris Zappa 🤘🏻